India Lists 24 "Fake Universities"

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

India's University Grants Commission (UGC) has put out a list of 24 "fake universities" and warned students and the public not to enroll in them. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 under Section 22(1) provides that a degree can be awarded, only by a University established under a central, State/Provincial Act; an institution deemed to be university under section 3 of the UGC Act; or an Institution especially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer the degree. Further, Section 23 of the UGC Act prohibits the use of word "University" by any institution that does not meet these criteria. In April 2018, the UGC listed the following as unrecognized and functioning in violation of the UGC Act and called them "fake universities."